Duo / DuoLE Vu-duo is Dead

[fumbduck]

Sure mate, did exactly what alian said:

1) Duo off, removed hard disk, usb **** and all, disconnected from wall.

2) after a couple days (maybe a few hours is enough), connected to wall plug,

2) plugged a USB key (1GB) formatted FAT32 with cfe 3.0 on it into front USB

3) turned on; waited 30 seconds, still red and nothing happening. Turned off, counted 15 and back on

4) after 3 or 4 times od the same stuff I turned it on and went to another room. Came back after 3 minutes and it had restarted.

That's it!

Which means that nothing was broken: the box had just entered a stall of some sort, maybe concerning the flash memory.

Try that: with some patience you might actually solve it

DD

Cheers for the explanation mate.
It could still however be the cap or regulator.
I remember how mine would play up and after turning off for a few hours, it would be fine again for a while. These problems can be intermittent and don't necessarily show up all the time.
Anyway let's hope you fixed yours, time will tell.

 

[DonaldDuck]

Uhm well, I turned it on and off another 10 times in 30 minutes, and it worked every time ... I understand that electronics is a funny thing, but it looks like a corrupted flash to me. Time will tell, anyway

Hope you solve it too, bye

DD

 

[Cojayar]

Uhm well, I turned it on and off another 10 times in 30 minutes, and it worked every time ... I understand that electronics is a funny thing, but it looks like a corrupted flash to me. Time will tell, anyway

Hope you solve it too, bye

DD

Your problem does not necessarily be the same as mine or others. Therefore your solution does not necessarily be the one needed for other people.

Mine was hanging when a recording started (therefore the hard disk was working and probably it was too hot). I tried disconnecting everything and waiting for hours but it did not worked. Well I did not tried the USB with cfe 3.0 but it was not detecting any USB. After changing the cap it just started as normal. A couple of days working without problems.

 

[DonaldDuck]

Yup it looks like a different problem to me, although I am no electronics expert and stick to my side of the river (the Physics that's behind it all).

 

[alian]

Hang/Stuck and so on is natural behavior of Linux Boxes. User of such boxes must be Patient.
If you arrive in Linux world boxes by changing orignal image or installing plugins/Skins/Peripherals, you will accept all risks.
So if you are not, Buy a ordinary STB box or do not change main conditions of the box and do not use it such as a Hourse.
Dreambox or Vu+ as Leaders of Linux boxes dont have Higher performance or graphics as ordinary STB boxes.
The Only thing that is better in Linux boxes is Programing ability for power users.
Ok. if your legs are stuck in the hole of Box Stucking must be Patient and try to go up Or Reset the box to factory state and
install foctory image with date of making your box(date of making your box is printed on the main board) and do not install several
plugins or cams or hard disks or usbs.
Good luck.

 

[henkie]

I started a new thread under BH Vu+ Duo general because my box became defect after lightning and in that thread I described that I succeeded to install bootloader and to install some of the OpenPli images, but that the box is freezing with on the dispaly "starting...". Black Hole images are hanging on the disply with "reading USB...".
I got some replies from Matrix, Alian and Agenlofsky, but the the thread has been closed by Shiro!!!
My target is to find out if my box has a H/W failure or it it is a S/W matter, like so many users have the same failure as in this thread.
alain said: bad CFE3.0 boot laoder. But is is very difficult to find some older loader. Finally I found some laoder Duo_04-102011. I think I succeeded to install, because the box was saying "remove USB and reboot". After that I installed OpenPli2.1 beta 20111231 again and I thinkl I succeeded because the display was showing reading, erasing, progamming, reading and then finished, remove USB and reboot. After rebooting there is a bootlog of which I think without errors. But box is still freezing on "starting...".
angelofsky said part of flashmemory is dead, but is it than still possible that there was no error message during isntalling and that there is a bootlog w/o errors.
How can I find out that the box is really defect due to H/W like flashmemory and that I have to throw away the box or is there still some S/W problem like as with so many others in this thread.
Please help me

 

[angelofsky1980]

I started a new thread under BH Vu+ Duo general because my box became defect after lightning and in that thread I described that I succeeded to install bootloader and to install some of the OpenPli images, but that the box is freezing with on the dispaly "starting...". Black Hole images are hanging on the disply with "reading USB...".
I got some replies from Matrix, Alian and Agenlofsky, but the the thread has been closed by Shiro!!!
My target is to find out if my box has a H/W failure or it it is a S/W matter, like so many users have the same failure as in this thread.
alain said: bad CFE3.0 boot laoder. But is is very difficult to find some older loader. Finally I found some laoder Duo_04-102011. I think I succeeded to install, because the box was saying "remove USB and reboot". After that I installed OpenPli2.1 beta 20111231 again and I thinkl I succeeded because the display was showing reading, erasing, progamming, reading and then finished, remove USB and reboot. After rebooting there is a bootlog of which I think without errors. But box is still freezing on "starting...".
angelofsky said part of flashmemory is dead, but is it than still possible that there was no error message during isntalling and that there is a bootlog w/o errors.
How can I find out that the box is really defect due to H/W like flashmemory and that I have to throw away the box or is there still some S/W problem like as with so many others in this thread.
Please help me

I don't know what checks do the flash process into flash memory BUT the errors you rpeorted into other thread are clear: CRC errors = corrupted / damaged flash memory.

 

[>>Artorius<<]

I started a new thread under BH Vu+ Duo general because my box became defect after lightning and in that thread I described that I succeeded to install bootloader and to install some of the OpenPli images, but that the box is freezing with on the dispaly "starting...". Black Hole images are hanging on the disply with "reading USB...".
I got some replies from Matrix, Alian and Agenlofsky, but the the thread has been closed by Shiro!!!
My target is to find out if my box has a H/W failure or it it is a S/W matter, like so many users have the same failure as in this thread.
alain said: bad CFE3.0 boot laoder. But is is very difficult to find some older loader. Finally I found some laoder Duo_04-102011. I think I succeeded to install, because the box was saying "remove USB and reboot". After that I installed OpenPli2.1 beta 20111231 again and I thinkl I succeeded because the display was showing reading, erasing, progamming, reading and then finished, remove USB and reboot. After rebooting there is a bootlog of which I think without errors. But box is still freezing on "starting...".
angelofsky said part of flashmemory is dead, but is it than still possible that there was no error message during isntalling and that there is a bootlog w/o errors.
How can I find out that the box is really defect due to H/W like flashmemory and that I have to throw away the box or is there still some S/W problem like as with so many others in this thread.
Please help me

I think the obvious problem has already been answered by yourself as you know the box has been affected by a LIGHTENING STRIKE

Have you taken the top off and inspected it for damage ? Do know what you would be looking for if you did take the top off ?
Here on the forum members can only give you pointers and ideas but no one can fix it or give a definitive answer to what your box requires.
Angelofsky has given you a very good answer to what has failed but again you can only use it as a guide.

My advice is send it to a recommended repairer and see if it is worth repairing but the truth is after a lightening strike most electrics are only fit for the bin.

 

[henkie]

angelofsky and Actorius thank you for your replies. I hoped that there could be some way to test the flash memory, perhaps via RS232, to be 100% sure that it will be defetive. However it seems not. To find a recomended repairer is difficult and the costs perhaps will be the price of a new box. So, as you said I am afraid that the box is fit for the bin.

regards

 

[tuneboy2005]

Hi just wanna let you know that i have fixed my VU+ DUO by replacing CAP C807. The value i used was 330µF 25V 105°.
Suddenly i also had only the red light in front that was lit up. Thanks to this forum i fixed it and saved me much money. Thanks

 

[catshoop]

Hi just wanna let you know that i have fixed my VU+ DUO by replacing CAP C807. The value i used was 330µF 25V 105°.
Suddenly i also had only the red light in front that was lit up. Thanks to this forum i fixed it and saved me much money. Thanks

Yes just search, and you find'it on the net.
C 807 is mine. Catshoop

 

[alez]

Another victim of C807

Some days before Christmas, my Vu+ Duo was freezed, when re-powered on appear to be slowly.
I have tried to disconnect the hard disk, but when the CPU was working high, the decoder they freeze again.
After a short search, i have found this thread, i have replaced C807, now all is working good.

I have cutted the original capacitor and soldered on a new, a 220 micro Farad, 50V and 105°C, with superior characteristics respect the original.


Photo from 1 to 5 : localize and identify C807

Photo 6 e 7 : original capacitor removed, 220 micro Farad, 16V , 85°C

Photo 8: leads of original capacitor trimmed

Photo 9: spare capacitor, 220 micro Farad, 50V, 105°C

Photo 10: preparing the solder tin on the leads of spare capacitor

Photo from 11 to 13: spare capacitor soldered on old leads


All photos collected in this imageshack album:

imageshack.us/g/1/9940152/

 

[Berry]

This threat is great, my VU+ died. I replaced C807 by a 470uF and it works again. Thanks a lot !

 

[chulbul]

when replacing the capacitator do u need to solder it ?

 

[fumbduck]

when replacing the capacitator do u need to solder it ?

Yes, sticky tape won't work

 

[chulbul]

Mine is dead sent back to supplier as it had 3 year warranty, lets see what he says now

 

[George1979]

I have a similar problem on my box. If i turn it off i have to leave it like this for about 15 minutes, if i try to turn it on sooner it wont start.
It just shows the red led on the front and nothing else. I changed the capacitor with a new one, but the behaviour remains the same.
What should i try now ? Change another capacitor or all of them ? How can i find the problem ?

 

[>>Artorius<<]

I have a similar problem on my box. If i turn it off i have to leave it like this for about 15 minutes, if i try to turn it on sooner it wont start.
It just shows the red led on the front and nothing else. I changed the capacitor with a new one, but the behaviour remains the same.
What should i try now ? Change another capacitor or all of them ? How can i find the problem ?

I also changed the capacitor this weekend and also have the same problem, if you go further back in this thread George there are other options to explore.

 

[George1979]

Are you talking about this post, about regulators ?

For those whose duo is still not working after replacing c807 here is the solution.

View attachment 7601

If you don't change c807 on time, and if you play and experiment with bricked duo with power switched on, the regulator (No3 on photo) will die. On duo it's marked Pz 1021ai and universal name isAOZ1212, there are 3 exactly the same regulators on duo (see photo), but note that all are outputing different voltages, this is from memory (measure before changing anything):
1. gives 2.5v
2. gives 1.25v
3. gives 1.15v

If you can find a spare (which is extremely difficult) just replace it and duo will work like new.

And if no spare is available don't worry there is a solution. Here is what we did:
We found manual schematic for DIY regulator that converts 5v to 1.25, and we made it
Took out the working regulator from position 2 on photo and istalled it into position 3 in place of defect regulator.
We manualy injected 1.25v from theDIY regulator directly into the output pins of 2nd regulator and whouala the DUO works like new.


Now the cause of this is simple, prolonged exposure to heat makes condensator c807 break, which can than break regulator. The position of c807 is very near HDD which creates heat especially if used extensively. Or if you have fan problems this can reduce the amount of air circulating which can be also cause. Or simply the batch of condensers used in some duo mainboards is not so good. In my case, it was after 2 and a half years of extensive use. And the new condenser costs just 5eurocents and the regulator costs 1 euro.

 

[>>Artorius<<]

Yes George, I don't know if I have the time at present but I have a friend who might do it for me.